It also means that the three parts of the story will be arriving at yearly intervals, with The Desolation Of Smaug scheduled to open in the UK on 13 December 2013.

Although we’re eager to see the trilogy in its entirety, there was always something that jarred with releasing the final episode in summertime. The LOTR films have traditionally been festive affairs, and we can’t say we’re disappointed that that tradition is to be maintained.

Directed by Peter Jackson and co-starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage, The Hobbit: There And Back Again will now open in the UK on 17 December 2014.